Portable dark-room for photographers



(No Model.)

W. W. WALKER. PORTABLE DARK ROOMTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS.

No. 312.937. Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

WITNESSES IN'VENTOR 9k 9%. BY JAM/M ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEO PORTABLE DARK-ROOM FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,937, dated February 24, 1885.

Application filed August 12, 1884. (No model.)

T 0 Mi whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W EIGHTMAN \VALKER, of Willianisport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Portable Dark Room for Photographers, of which the following is a full, clear,- and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved photographic dark room or box which can be folded very compactly to be transported, and can be erected for use very easily and rapidly.

The invention consists in a folding darkroom formed of a flat box and a top to which two sides are hinged, the said sides being adapted to be held in an upright position on the flat box when the dark room or box is erected; but when it is folded the top and sides are placed into the flat box. Sleeves are secured to the ends of the top and hinged sides. Panes of colored glass are held in the sides and top.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of my inr proved portable dark-room, the same being erected. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one corner, showing the joint. Fig. i is a perspective view of the dark-room, the same being folded.

The base of the dark room or box, when erected, consists of a flat box, A, having one longitudinal side open to receive the other parts of the folding room. The two sides B B are hinged to the side edges of the top O in such a manner that they can be folded against the under side of the top. To permit of this the hinges on the side B must be arranged a short distance from the edge of the top 0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Headed studs or screws D project from the bottom edges of the sides B B, at or near the ends, and in the upper surface of the box A slots or recesses are formed, which are covered by plates E, having longitudinal slots F, provided at corresponding ends with apertures F, of sufficient size to receive the heads of the studs or screws D, the slotsF being of sufficient size to receive the shanks of the studs or screws D.

On the outer side of each side B and B a sliding bolt, G, is arranged, which is adapted to be passed into a recess in the top of the box A, to prevent the sides B B from being box A.

Apertures are formed in the top G and the side B, and in the said apertures panes H, of red, yellow, or other glass or other transparent material, are held, which shut out the white light.

Bags, curtains, or sleeves J, of black fabric or rubber cloth, are secured in some suitable manner to the ends of the top and sides, and are provided at their free ends with elastic bands or cords, which draw them closely around the hands, wrists, and arms passed through the openings, thus excluding alllight;

To erect the box the bottom edges of the sides B B are placed on the top of the box A, the heads of the screws or studs D passing into the apertures F. The sides B B are then shifted in the direction of their length and locked in place by the bolts G. The operator passes the plate-holder and his hands into the box through the end bags, and can change the plates, &c., in the box, the light passing in through the panes H enabling him to see sufficiently to manipulate as may be necessary. Vhen the box or room is folded, the sides, ends, and-curtains are placed into box A, and thus occupy a minimum of space, and can be transported very easily. The above-described dark-room can have any desired size or shape.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A- portable dark-room consisting of ailat colored glass and adapted to be secured to the said box, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a portable darkroom, the combination, with a flat box, of hinged sides and top, adapted to be secured to the said box, and provided with curtains, sleeves, or bags at their ends, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In afolding dark-room,the combination, with a that box, of a top and of two sides shifted in the direction of their length on the box, and hinged sides and top provided with e hinged to the same, adapted to be held erect tom edges of the sides and adapted to be passed on the box, or to be placed into the box when through the slotted plates, and bolts on the 10 folded, substantially as herein shown and dehinged sides, substantially as herein shown scribed. and described.

4. In a folding dark-r0om,tl1e combination, M. XVEIGHTMAN XVALKER. with a box in one side of which slotted plates Vitnesses: are secured, of a top, two sides hinged to the a same, headed studs projecting from the bot- OSCAR F. GUNZ, C. SEDG'WICK. 

